Successful Launch of Norway’s New Satellite

The new national satellite, NorSat-4, was launched on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 8:09 PM Norwegian time.

During the night leading into Wednesday, the control room established contact with the satellite, and everything looks good.

The launch was carried out by SpaceX using a Falcon-9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The mission, named Transport-12, carried several small satellites of varying sizes into space.

NorSat-4, like the other national satellites NorSat-1, NorSat-2, and NorSat-3, will primarily monitor maritime traffic from orbit.

In addition, NorSat-4 carries two other payloads onboard: a low-light camera and an encryption solution. Both are new technologies to be demonstrated in space.

NorSat-4 weighs approximately 35 kilograms and measures 76 x 83 x 43 centimeters when its antennas and solar panels are deployed.

The main payload on NorSat-4 is a receiver that captures signals from the Automatic Identification System (AIS), a collision-avoidance system that all ships over 300 gross tons are required to have onboard.

AIS signals provide information on a ship's position, speed, direction, and identification. Satellites use these signals to ensure safe maritime traffic, detect illegal fishing, smuggling, and other criminal activities, monitor borders, secure maritime areas, and more.

The Norwegian Coastal Administration owns and operates the AIS system for Norway and shares this information with other users, including the Armed Forces, other government agencies, private companies, and organizations.

"This satellite reinforces Norway's ability to monitor activities in our maritime areas. This is of particular significance in today's geopolitical climate. NorSat-4 is an important addition to our technical infrastructure," says Coastal Director Einar Vik Arset.

The AIS receiver on NorSat-4 is manufactured by Kongsberg Discovery and is the same type as those on the other national satellites, NorSat-1, -2, and -3.

Two Types of New Technology

In addition, NorSat-4 carries two payloads with new technology to be demonstrated in space.

One payload is a camera designed for maritime surveillance. It is capable of detecting ships longer than 30 meters, even during periods of darkness or under poor lighting conditions. This low-light camera was designed and is owned by the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) and was developed and built by the French company Safran Reosc.

The other payload encrypts all communication with the satellite, including telemetry, commands, and onboard-generated data. This encryption payload was commissioned by FFI and built by the Norwegian company EIDEL.

"The introduction of AIS recordings from satellites was a major advancement when we demonstrated it in 2010, but we've identified the need for additional sensor technologies to verify AIS messages and complement the surveillance picture. The navigation radar detector on NorSat-3 and this new camera are FFI's latest contributions to national maritime surveillance via satellites," says Research Director Trygve Sparr at FFI.

Control Room in Oslo

NorSat-4 will operate in a polar sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 590 kilometers. The new Norwegian satellite will be controlled from the control room at Statsat in Skøyen, Oslo. The satellite will undergo commissioning for a few weeks.

"We will activate one system at a time onboard and download telemetry to check that all values are normal. We’ll ensure the satellite is pointing in the correct direction and then power on the payloads one by one to test them," says Eirik Voje Blindheim, project manager for NorSat-4 at the Norwegian Space Agency.

"Ship monitoring will be prioritized, so the first AIS data from NorSat-4 will likely be available after just a few days," Blindheim adds.

Developed by the Norwegian Space Agency

NorSat-4 was built by Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) in Canada.

The Norwegian Coastal Administration financed the construction of NorSat-4 and owns the AIS receiver onboard. FFI (Norwegian Defence Research Establishment) owns the two technology demonstration payloads onboard.

The Norwegian Space Agency led the development of NorSat-4, which began in 2019.

"NorSat-4 is part of the portfolio of national microsatellites for maritime surveillance, and the Norwegian Space Agency is responsible for maintaining this capability. Older satellites are gradually being phased out, and NorSat-4 is a very important addition to both maintain access to AIS data and test new technologies," says Christian Hauglie-Hanssen, Director General of the Norwegian Space Agency.

"Both the low-light camera and the encryption payload will pave the way for new services and more robust space infrastructure. This is critical for the continued development of our national self-reliance in space," Hauglie-Hanssen concludes.

Contact

Eirik Blindheim – Project Manager for NorSat-4 – The Norwegian Space Agency - +47 402 18 130

Marianne Moen – Head of Communication – The Norwegian Space Agency – +47 480 63 743